Category Archives: Microplastics & Environmental Health

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have become ubiquitous contaminants in food production systems, raising increasing concerns regarding their potential effects on gastrointestinal and systemic health. This review summarizes current evidence on the occurrence, sources, and biological effects of MPs/NPs within food production chains and their implications for the human gut. Experimental in vitro studies demonstrate that MPs/NPs can induce oxidative stress, inflammation, genotoxicity,…

The role of the environment in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is acknowledged as being critical, yet enquiry into the exposome and IBD is limited. Recognizing the exposome as encompassing all physical, chemical, biological and psychosocial factors that influence human health over the lifespan is central to unravelling its role in IBD, as well as overlapping immune-mediated diseases. Here, we summarize the latest in exposome research in IBD, differentiate between early life and later exposures,…

Plastics are an integral part of modern society; however, their environmental persistence has led to widespread contamination, posing significant ecological and human health risks. Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) raise concerns because of their small size and ability to penetrate biological systems, leading to concerns about bioaccumulation and toxicity. This review examines the sources, classification, and fate of MPs in the environment, their entry routes into the human body, organ…

Background/Objectives: Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) have emerged as ubiquitous environmental contaminants resulting from the extensive production, use, and degradation of plastic materials. Human exposure occurs primarily through contaminated food and drinking water, with inhalation representing an additional important route. Growing concern has focused on the ability of these particles, particularly NPs, to cross biological barriers, enter the systemic circulation, and reach human…

Nanoplastics and microplastics have become an increasing ecological and health concern due to their widespread presence in the environment and food chain. In this study, Caco-2 cells were used as an in vitro model of the human intestinal epithelium to investigate the cytotoxic effects of polystyrene nanoparticles and microparticles of varying sizes, concentrations, and surface modification. Oxidative stress and apoptosis were evaluated following particle exposure. Raman spectroscopy, combined…

CONCLUSIONS: Early-life exposure to PS50 or PS50w has long-lasting consequences on gut physiology, and effects show sexual dimorphism. The results presented raise questions on the kinetics of later-life effects linked to perinatal PS50 and PS50w exposure, and introduce the notion of imprinting.

CONCLUSIONS: Using MNPs-related genes, we built a prognostic model for PAAD, revealing that patients with high-risk scores are likely to have a worse prognosis. This model is designed to develop personalized treatment strategies tailored to the specific needs of each patient, thereby improving clinical outcomes for PAAD patients. Furthermore, IL1A could be a promising therapeutic candidate for PAAD.

Tire-derived microplastics (TWPs) are now recognized as one of the largest and most persistent sources of environmental micro- and nanoplastic pollution, yet their implications for human health remain incompletely characterized. TWPs contain complex mixtures of synthetic polymers, metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, plasticizers, antioxidants, and transformation products such as 6PPD-quinone. These constituents exhibit chemical reactivity and biological activity relevant to oxidative…

CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this study provides the first integrated, size-resolved characterization of MNPs uptake and intracellular responses in primary human monocytes, combining ultrastructural and biological evidence of phagocytic internalization, autophagy-lysosomal flux, mitochondrial homeostasis, and cellular bioenergetics within the same experimental framework. MNPs uptake was associated with concurrent alterations in the autophagy-lysosomal axis, mitochondrial homeostasis, and…

Micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) have emerged as ubiquitous environmental contaminants and are increasingly implicated in adverse cardiovascular outcomes, yet their induced cardiotoxicity and potential mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study integrated in vivo mouse models, AC16 cardiomyocytes and a human cardiac organoid-on-a-chip (COoC) platform to multi-dimensionally evaluate polystyrene nanoparticles (PS-NPs)-induced cardiac injury and clarify its key molecular mechanisms. We found…